BRITISH DAILY PRESS TO RESCUE

Wanganui Chronicle, 24 February 1947, Page 5

BRITISH DAILY PRESS TO RESCUE

ASSISTED WEEKLY PUBLICATIONS FUEL ECONOMY MEASURES (Special—N.Z.P.A. Correspondent) Recd. 6.30 p.m. London, Feb. 21. Although it is now evident the Government will make no exception in favour of five political weeklies whose publication, with that of other periodicals. is suspended for a fortnight as part of the fuel economy treasures, a number of leading daily newspapers have come to their rescue and offered them the hospitality of their pages. This, at a period when the dailies themselves have forfeited an even small increase in space they enjoyed since wartime newsprint restrictions were partially relaxed, is a very valuable gesture, even if reckoned only in terms of newspaper revenue.

It must, however, be reckoned in more than material terms. For instance, the chief organ of the Conservative Party, he "Daily Telegraph,” opened its pages without any restrictions whatever to the left wing “New Statesman and Nation," and although the "New Statesman" could not accept the offer because it had already accepted prior offers from the “News Chronicle" and “Evening Standard," it expressed its deep appreciation of the spirit which promoted the "Telegraph's" offer. This morning the greater part of the “News Chronicle’s" leader page was taken up by "New Statesman" features while the “Daily Mail" extends similarly generous hospitality to the “Spectator.” The “Evening Standard,” which is a leading Conservative evening daily, has already commenced regular publication of the chief features from "Time and Tide" and the "New Statesman” while the “Observer" and "Sunday Pictorial" also offered space to other features of suspended weeklies. It is pointed out in a number of editorials that the assistance given the weeklies by their daily contemporaries is an indication of the sense of responsibility with which the British newspaper press as a whole regards its obligations to the public. A number of periodicals considered attempting to maintain continuity of publication by issuing roneographed sheets, but even this is forbidden under the Government order.